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Shadow Mountain Lake is a reservoir in Colorado. The water surface spans about 1,346 acres, making it a mid-sized body of water. Sitting at around 8,367 feet of elevation, it drops to a maximum depth near 37 feet. Fish documented in the area include Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, and Mackinaw (Lake Trout). LakeRadar pulls readings from a mapped water gauge, so current water data is shown when the station reports. Nearby alternatives include Shadow Mountain Lake, Grand Lake, and Lake Granby. Coverage here includes an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, water readings, fishing conditions, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. Forecasts for Shadow Mountain Lake come from the National Weather Service and refresh several times a day.
Updated
No active alerts for this lake as of the last check (Oct 9, 2:51 AM MDT). Alerts are re-checked automatically; see the official source for updates.
Best good fishing window, averaging 88/100 across these hours. Measured water temperature 57°F from a representative gauge 1.6 mi away. Provisional data. Wind 8 mph from the southwest. Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a | 6a | 7a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 38° | 37° | 35° | 33° | 32° | 32° | 35° | 40° | 48° | 55° | 59° | 63° | 64° | 65° | 66° | 65° | 62° | 57° | 53° | 50° | 48° | 46° | 44° | 42° |
| Wind (kts) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Direction | NE | E | E | E | S | SW | E | SW | SW | SW | SW | SW | W | W | W | W | W | SW | SW | SW | SW | SW | SW | SW |
| Gusts (kts) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 14% | 14% | 17% | 17% | 17% | 17% | 17% | 17% | 13% | 4% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 2 AM MDT | 38°F | 2 mph NE (45°) | 4 mph | 0% | 4% | Clear |
| Fri, 3 AM MDT | 37°F | 2 mph E (90°) | 4 mph | 0% | 4% | Clear |
| Fri, 4 AM MDT | 35°F | 2 mph E (90°) | 4 mph | 0% | 3% | Clear |
| Fri, 5 AM MDT | 33°F | 2 mph E (90°) | 4 mph | 0% | 3% | Clear |
| Fri, 6 AM MDT | 32°F | 2 mph SSE (158°) | 4 mph | 0% | 3% | Sunny |
| Fri, 7 AM MDT | 32°F | 2 mph SW (225°) | 4 mph | 0% | 5% | Sunny |
| Fri, 8 AM MDT | 35°F | 2 mph E (90°) | 4 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 9 AM MDT | 40°F | 2 mph SW (225°) | 4 mph | 0% | 0% | Sunny |
| Fri, 10 AM MDT | 48°F | 3 mph SW (225°) | 6 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 11 AM MDT | 55°F | 5 mph SW (225°) | 8 mph | 0% | 4% | Sunny |
| Fri, 12 PM MDT | 59°F | 7 mph SW (225°) | 12 mph | 14% | 22% | Sunny |
| Fri, 1 PM MDT | 63°F | 10 mph SW (225°) | 16 mph | 14% | 22% | Sunny |
| Fri, 2 PM MDT | 64°F | 12 mph WSW (248°) | 18 mph | 17% | 30% | Slight Chance Rain Showers |
| Fri, 3 PM MDT | 65°F | 13 mph WSW (248°) | 21 mph | 17% | 37% | Slight Chance Rain Showers |
| Fri, 4 PM MDT | 66°F | 13 mph WSW (248°) | 21 mph | 17% | 41% | Slight Chance Rain Showers |
| Fri, 5 PM MDT | 65°F | 13 mph WSW (248°) | 21 mph | 17% | 45% | Slight Chance Rain Showers |
| Fri, 6 PM MDT | 62°F | 9 mph WSW (248°) | 15 mph | 17% | 49% | Slight Chance Rain Showers |
| Fri, 7 PM MDT | 57°F | 8 mph SW (225°) | 13 mph | 17% | 44% | Slight Chance Rain Showers |
| Fri, 8 PM MDT | 53°F | 7 mph SW (225°) | 14 mph | 13% | 38% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 9 PM MDT | 50°F | 8 mph SSW (203°) | 14 mph | 4% | 31% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 10 PM MDT | 48°F | 7 mph SSW (203°) | 13 mph | 0% | 25% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 11 PM MDT | 46°F | 6 mph SSW (203°) | 10 mph | 0% | 11% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 12 AM MDT | 44°F | 6 mph SSW (203°) | 9 mph | 0% | 9% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 1 AM MDT | 42°F | 6 mph SSW (203°) | 9 mph | 0% | 7% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 2 AM MDT | 40°F | 6 mph SW (225°) | 9 mph | 0% | 5% | Clear |
Official National Weather Service hourly forecast. Showing 10 of 25 hours. Wind arrows point the way the wind is blowing; the compass point and degrees show where it comes from.
| Period | Overnight October 9, 2026 | Friday October 9, 2026 | Friday Night October 9, 2026 | Saturday October 10, 2026 | Saturday Night October 10, 2026 | Sunday October 11, 2026 | Sunday Night October 11, 2026 | Columbus Day October 12, 2026 | Monday Night October 12, 2026 | Tuesday October 13, 2026 | Tuesday Night October 13, 2026 | Wednesday October 14, 2026 | Wednesday Night October 14, 2026 | Thursday October 15, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 32° | 67° | 34° | 63° | 37° | 62° | 38° | 63° | 32° | 60° | 28° | 47° | 24° | 48° |
| Wind | E 2 mph | SSW 2 to 13 mph | SW 5 to 9 mph | SW 5 to 14 mph | SW 5 to 9 mph | SSW 3 to 8 mph | SSW 8 mph | W 5 to 14 mph | NNE 2 to 6 mph | SSE 2 to 14 mph | W 9 to 17 mph | W 10 to 20 mph | W 13 to 22 mph | W 6 to 10 mph |
| Gusts | 4 mph | 21 mph | 15 mph | 23 mph | 16 mph | 15 mph | 14 mph | 29 mph | 14 mph | 28 mph | 30 mph | 36 mph | 39 mph | 18 mph |
| Precip % | 0% | 17% | 17% | 33% | 10% | 7% | 31% | 6% | 20% | 36% | 63% | 67% | 56% | 35% |
| Forecast |
No active USGS or USACE telemetry gauge is currently mapped to Shadow Mountain Lake. Not available from a verified source for this lake.
GRAND LAKE OUTLET BLW CHIPMUNK LN AT GRAND LK, CO · Oct 9, 8:40 AM UTC
Good for fishing (79/100), from 6 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 2 mph from the northeast. Measured water temperature 57°F from a representative gauge 1.6 mi away. Provisional data. Working against it: Air temperature 38°F. Not available from a verified source for this lake: pressure trend. Confidence is moderate (82%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Excellent for boating (99/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 2 mph from the northeast. Gusts to 4 mph. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility and conditions, verified water access. Confidence is moderate (84%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Fair for sailing (71/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Gusts are within 2 mph of sustained wind, so the breeze is steady. No active official alerts for this lake. Working against it: Wind 2 mph is light; expect limited sailing. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Good for kayaking (80/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 2 mph from the northeast. Gusts to 4 mph. Working against it: Air temperature 38°F. Combined air and water temperature is 95°F (below the 120°F safety guideline). Thermal protection recommended for paddle craft. Confidence is high (90%).
Surface water measured at 57°F. Cold shock reflex presents an immediate drowning risk.
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Individual boat ramp GPS coordinates are maintained under the jurisdiction of CO Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
Shadow Mountain Lake is an important freshwater reservoir in CO, overseen by state and local natural resource agencies to balance public recreation with natural resource stewardship. The waterbody offers excellent conditions for sport fishing, cruising, and paddling during favorable weather windows. Checking real-time water levels and ramp clearances ensures safe navigation along the shoreline.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is required for anglers age 16+. Digital license on mobile is accepted.
Mandatory Clean, Drain & Dry inspection. Out-of-area craft require on-site Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS Quagga/Zebra) inspection or decontamination before launch. USCG life jackets required for all.
Public shoreline and boating access managed by State & Local Authorities. Verify seasonal gate hours, launch fees, and parking rules before travel.
High-speed motorboating, pontoon cruising, wakeboarding, and water skiing across main channels. Target gamefish include Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Mackinaw (Lake Trout). Morning hours typically provide optimal glassy conditions for kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) touring.
Warm water temperatures, peak swimming, active watersports, and open full-service campgrounds. Highest weekly attendance; plan early arrivals on summer weekends.
Spring pre-spawn and fall feeding transitions create prime trophy angling conditions. Cooler air, lower boat traffic, and vibrant seasonal shoreline foliage.
High-altitude mountain winter climate (elevation 8,367 ft MSL). Freezing temperatures, potential snowpack or ice cover, and reduced seasonal amenities. Winter safety caution advised.
No external source rows are cited by the data currently shown on this page.
Updated
Scores are heuristics, not safety guarantees. LakeRadar scores summarize available conditions and are not a substitute for official warnings, local rules, or on-water judgment.
All telemetry for Shadow Mountain Lake is synchronized directly from authorized federal and state monitoring networks (USGS, NWS, NOAA, and state environmental authorities). Observations are strictly instrumented readings — unmonitored sensors are transparently disclosed rather than synthetic estimates.
Last source audit: Oct 9, 2:51 AM MDT